Self-wringing mop



June 5, 1962 H. A. ANDERSON SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed Nov. 3, 1958 INV ENTOR. #award/4. Ande/.fm

'3,037,229 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,229 SELF-WRINGING MOP Howard A. Anderson, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Bissell Inc., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 771,573 Claims. (Cl. 1S-119) This invention relates to mops and like hand manipulated cleaning implements. The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a mop including a mop element of water absorbing sponge-like material desirably synthetic material, which may be readily projected to work or use position in which position it is effectively supported or retracted to wring or squeeze the water therefrom.

Second, to provide a cleaning device of this type which is light in weight and easily manipulated, and at the same time one in which the cleaning element is supported so as to minimize reading stresses thereon.

Third, to provide a cleaning element of this type which permits ready removal or changing of the cleaning element as occasion may require.

Fourth, to providel a cleaning implement having these advantages in which the cleaning element is provided with diverging faces which facilitate the manipulation of the mop over the surface to be cleaned by means of an elongated handle.

Fifth, to provide a structure having these several advantages in which the parts may be economically produced and assembled.

Gbjects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a cleaning implement embodying my invention with the mop or cleaning element in projected position.

FIG. 2 is a sidey elevational view with the parts in cleaning element wringing position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view with the cleaning or mop element in projected use position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary View in section on a line corresponding-to line 5--5 of FIG. 3, illustrating the relationship of the handle members to each other and the head member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view with the mop element in partially retracted wringing position on a line corresponding to line 6 6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mop element supporting bar.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mop element.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is primarily designed for use as a mop, but it may be used for cleaning windows and various other surfaces. It comprises a head member-designated generally by the numeral 1, which is of outwardly facing channel section, the side members 2 of which in this preferred embodiment diverge downwardly and terminate in outwardly diverging mop element supports 3 which are downwardly curved and curvedly merge into the holder side members 2,. The tubular inner handle member 4 is xedly connected to the head member in the embodiment illustrated, being formed integrally therewith, these parts being desirably formed of plastic. The outer handle member 5, which is used to manipulate the implement, is telescopingly slidable in the inner handle member and projects into the head member.

The mop or cleaning element 6 is desirably formed of synthetic cellular or sponge-like material and has upwardly diverging Work faces 7 and downwardly diverging support engaging surfaces 8, which supportedly engage the holder member flanges 3 when the cleaning element is in projected position as is shown in FIGS. l and 3. This mop element 6 has side members 9 between its upwardly and downwardly diverging surfaces. These configurations serve several purposes among them being to provide a substantial body of the sponge-like or cellular material to provide two work faces which are angularly disposed so that they may be presented flatwise to a surface being cleaned with the handle inclined as is normally the case in use, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The inclined top surfaces 8 supportedly engaging the curved anges 3 effectively support the mop element against the work thrust surfaces, and they also minimize the tearing stresses or strains as the mop element is re'- tracted into wringing position, as shown in FIG. 2. Further, and a very important factor or feature, is that as the mop element is retracted the squeezing or wringing stress forces the water from the mop element through its faces which are at all times exposed, that is, the Work faces of the mop are not clamped together but are in outwardly diverging relation throughout the wringing operation.

The curving of the anges 3 minimizes both the manual effort and the tearing stress or rupturing stre-ss on the mop element which is supported in its projected use position by the head member anges 3 and the supporting bar 10 which is engaged in the central vertical slo-t 11 opening at the apex or juncture of the work faces 7.

The shank 12 is threaded at 13 for engagement with the internally threaded nut 14 xedly secured in the inner end of the outer handle member 5. The handle members are in frictional sliding engagement so that the implement may be manipulated over a surface by the operator grasping the outer handle member. However, in use position the inward thrust on the outer handle member is sustained by the stop 15, see use position in FIG. 1 and wringing position in FIG. 2. With this arrangement, the parts may be quickly assembled without the necessity of using tools, and the mop element may be released for replacement or renewal as occasion may require. To wring the mop element the operator grasps the inner handle member and pulls on the outer handle member or extends the handle to draw the mop element into wringing position. After wringing, it is only necessary to move the handle members 4in opposite direction to use position.

As stated, the forming of the mop element with downwardly converging faces not only greatly facilitates its use, but facilitates the wringing of the mop as the faces of the mop are never brought into overlapping position. Water is discharged freely from the beginning of the wringing compression. Another advantage of this is that the mop may be manipulated in either direction merely by swinging the handle from the position shown in FIG. l, for example, to an oppositely inclined position. If desired, the mop supporting bar 10 may be removably inserted through the opening 16 in its shank, in which case it is not necessary to disengage the handle member 5 from the shank.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical commercial embodiment thereof. I have not illustrated other embodiments or variations in structural details which may be made, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a cleaning device of the class described, the combination of an elongated head member of downwardly facing channel section the side members of which terminate in outwardly diverging mop element support members which present downwardly facing mop element supports of substantial width, a tubular inner handle member xedly connected to said head member and opening thereto, an outer handle member slidably supported within said inner handle member, a springably resilient cellular mop element having angularly disposed upwardly diverging work faces and top surfaces supportedly engaging said outwardly diverging mop element supports of said head member, said mop element having a longitudinal slot therein opening centrally between its said work faces, a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said slot and operatively connected to said outer handle member, said inner and outer handle members having co-engaging stops when the mop element is in its extended work position, in which position it is in thrust supported relation to said supports of said head member, said mop element when in extended position presenting upwardly diverging work faces and may be retracted into said head member for wringing or projected therefrom for use in work position by the manipulation of said handle members.

2. In a cleaning device of the class described, the combination of an elongated head member of downwardly facing channel section, the side members of which constitute laterally spaced downwardly facing mop element supports, a tubular inner handle member tixedly connected to said head member, an outer handle member telescopingly associated with said inner handle member with its inner end projecting into said head member and its outer end constituting a hand grip for actuating the device in reciprocating action on a oor, a springably resilient absorbent mop element having a longitudinal opening therein, a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said opening and provided with a shank disposed through the mop element above the opening therein and to which said outer handle member is detachably connected, said handle members having stops which are in engagement limiting the downthrust of said outer handle member when the mop element is in its extended work position in supported relation to the side members of said head member.

3. In a cleaning device of the class described, the corn-` bination of an elongated head member of outwardly fac ing channel section, a handle comprising telescopingly associated inner and outer handle members, the inner handle member being xedly connected to said head member, an absorbent compressible mop element having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said slot and having a shank aligned with said handle members and to which the outer handle member is detachably connected, said handle members being provided with coacting stops which are in thrust engagement when the mop element is in projected work position.

4. In a cleaning device of the class described, the combmation of an elongated head member of downwardly facing channel section, a handle comprising telescopingly associated inner and outer handle members, one end of said inner handle member being fixedly connected to said head member centrally of the latter and said outer handle member extending axially through said inner handle member and upwardly and outwardly therefrom for manual manipulation of the device by a standing operator, an absorbent mop element having a longitudinally extending slot therein, and a supporting bar for said mop element disposed 4in said slot and having a shank aligned with said handle members and to which the lower end of the outer handle member has detachable threaded engagement, said mop element being disposed parallel to said head member channel section and being adapted to be drawn thereinto by relative telescopic movement of said inner and outer handle members.

5. In a mop or the like, the combination of an elongated head member of outwardly facing channel section,

the side members of which constitute laterally spaced downwardly facing mop element supports, a tubular inner handle member xedly connected to said head member to project upwardly therefrom and in approximately the transverse center thereof, an outer handle member of a length exceeding that of the inner handle member slid ably and rotatably supported therein to project from the outer end thereof, a springably resilient absorbent mop element having a longitudinal opening therein, and a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said opening and provided with a threaded shank projecting from said mop element within said head member, said outer handle member having threaded engagement with said shank of said supporting bar so that it may be engaged and disengaged therefrom by rotative adjustment of said outer handle member within said inner handle member, said handle members having coacting stops limiting the down thrust of said outer handle member within said inner handle member with the mop element in extended work position and in thrust supported relation to the said head member.

6. In a mop or the like, the combination of an elongated head member of outwardly facing channel section, the side members of which constitute laterally spaced downwardly facing mop element supports, a tubular inner handle member xedly connected to said head member to project upwardly therefrom and in approximately the transverse center thereof, an outer handle member of a length exceeding that of the inner handle member slidably supported therein to project from the outer end thereof, a springably resilient absorbent mop element having a longitudinal opening therein, a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said opening and to which said outer handle member is operatively connected, and stop means limiting the down thrust of said outer handle member within said inner handle member with the mop element in extended work position and in thrust supported relation to the said head member.

7. In a mop or the like, the combination of an elongated head member of outwardly facing channel section, the side members of which constitute downwardly facing mop element supports, a tubular handle inner member xedly connected to said head member to project centrally therefrom, an outer handle member of a length exceeding that of the inner handle member slidably and rotatably supported therein to project from the outer end thereof for manipulation of the mop on a surface, a springably resilient absorbent mop element having a longitudinal opening therein, and a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said opening and provided with a threaded shank projecting from said mop element within said head member and with which said outer handle member is threadedly engaged, said handle members having coacting stops which limit the down thrust of said outer handle member within said inner handle member with the mop element in extended position and in thrust supported relation to the side members of said head member.

8. In a mop or the like, the combination of an elongated head member of outwardly facing channel section, the side members of which constitute downwardly facing mop element supports, a tubular handle inner member fixedly connected to said head member to project centrally therefrom, lan outer handle member of a length exceeding that of the inner handle member slidably supported therein to project from the outer end thereof for manipulation of the mop on a surface, a springably resilient absorbent mop element having a longitudinal opening therein, and a supporting bar for said mop element disposed in said opening therein and with which said outer handle member is detachably engaged, said handle members having coacting stops which limit the down thrust of said outer handle member within said inner handle member with the mop element in extended position and in thrust supported relation to the side members of said head member.

9. In a mop or the like, the combination of an elongated head member of outwardly facing channel section having side members with inclined outer edge portions, a tubular inner handle member xedly connected to said head member to project upwardly therefrom, an outer handle member of a length exceeding that of the inner handle member slidably supported therein to project from the outer end thereof and into said head member, an elongated springably resilient synthetic sponge mop element having a cross section when uncompressed substantially exceeding the width of said head member so that when the mop element is in projected position it is supported by the outer portion of the side members of said head member, and a supporting bar for said mop element with which said outer handle member has a screw thread connection so that said outer handle member may be engaged and disengaged with the mop supporting bar by rotative adjustment of the outer handle member within the inner handle member when the head member is nonrotatably supported.

10. In a oor mop of the class described, a synthetic cellular sponge of generally diamond section and of substantial length and presenting either of two lower faces selectively for mopping action, a bar disposed centrally of the sponge for substantially the full length thereof, a shank connected centrally of the bar and extending upwardly through the sponge in a plane bisecting the angle between said working faces of the sponge, a long handle secured to said shank for manipulation of the sponge in mopping action by a standing operator, a head carried by said handle and having spaced walls engaging the corresponding opposite upper faces of said sponge and supporting the same during mopping action, means to extend said head upon said handle to thereby draw said sponge upwardly between said spaced walls to wring the same, and abutment means between said handle and head to provide support =for the upper faces of said sponge by said head when mopping.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,944 McMullin Aug. 13, 1940 2,774,093 King Dec. 18, 1956 2,832,089 Schwartz et al Apr. 29, 1958 2,852,794 Blum Sept. 23, 1958 2,892,201 Peterson et al. .Tune 30, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,688 Australia June 23, 1955 368,627 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1932 664,440 Great Britain Jfan. 9, 1952 677,866 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1952 

